e
leaving astern.

"We are doing what is right, depend upon it," observed Murray. "If so,
all will turn up right in the end."

The provisions had, they knew, been running short. They now carefully
examined into their stock, when, to their dismay, they found that they
had only a supply remaining for three or four days.

"Never mind," was Murray's remark. "We will go on half allowance. In
three or four days at most we shall weather the cape, and then we shall
have sufficient provision to keep us alive till we get in."

No one even thought of complaining of this arrangement, but took with
thankfulness their half allowance of food. Murray was much pleased with
the way the men bore their privations. He never thought about himself,
and took less than any one.

"I remember hearing an account given by some friends of ours of the
behaviour of their servants during a famine in England many years ago,"
observed Murray. "Corn was very scarce, and bread being consequently at
an enormous price, they determined to put their household on an
allowance, and to allow so many slices to each servant in the day,
giving them rice and other things instead, not stinting them, therefore,
in their food. This excessively enraged the pampered menials, and their
old butler, who was the most indignant, ate so much meat and puddings of
various sorts, and drank so much beer, that he actually brought on a
surfeit, and died from it. How angry most of the fellows at school
would have been if told that they could not have butter, or sugar in
their tea. Never mind if the butter was not to be procured, and the
sugar had by chance not come from the grocer's. How differently do
these poor seamen and the ignorant blacks behave. Not a grumble is
heard, not a look even of annoyance is seen."

Day after day they stood on, thinking that they must sight Cape Palmas
before many hours had passed, and then, after making the land, they
found that they could not be many miles farther to the west than they
were before.

"Still we might do it, if we could but get a stiffish breeze," observed
Murray. "I think the wind is drawing out more from the north-west and
east. What say you, Paddy?"

"Let's keep at it to the last moment. I'm ready for what you are?"
answered Adair.

The schooner was once more put about with her head to the westward.

Everybody whistled as they walked the deck--even the blacks did so--
though they did not know the reason why